Prototype of Motorola's modular phone almost ready

by12/9/2013 9:18:32 AM

12/9/2013 9:18:32 AM

We were quite excited about Project Ara back in October, because it could genuinely revolutionise the mobile phone market. However, back in October, it was only talk. It still is if we're honest - but that should change soon.

If you missed it previously, here's the brief explanation. You get what's described as an 'endoskeleton', with the option to buy 'modules' to go with it. Think of that as a frame and different parts - processor, screen, battery, sensors - pretty much anything on the hardware front. In time, that will expand beyond parts from one company, with a Module Developer's Kit (MDK) due to be launched for third-party modules. The end product is a smartphone tailored just to you.

But first things first. We want to see the finished product in action. That should be soon, according to Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside, who has been talking in a YouTube interview with Marques Brownlee.

He said: 'The idea is you have a skeleton that holds together a set of components and the components slide in and out,' adding that a prototype is 'pretty close' to being ready, with the final product likely to be heading to Motorola's existing customisation site, Moto Maker.

CES in January 2014 is probably a good guess for a Motorola showcase of the concept, failing that the MWC even not long after. It's a great idea and with Google's financial muscle behind the project, one is likely to make great strides into the marketplace too.